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Walter Adams Framing Completes Largest Project in Company History
San Francisco custom framing studio produces and installs 324 custom walnut frames for large-scale design project led by Acrylicize
2 June 2026 — SAN FRANCISCO: Some projects are measured in inches. Walter Adams Framing’s latest was measured in football fields. G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “Art consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.” For Walter Adams Framing, that idea recently took on record-breaking scale.
The San Francisco-based custom framing studio has completed the largest project in its history: the production and installation of 324 custom frames in eight different sizes for a large-scale design project led by Acrylicizethe international creative studio known for transforming workplaces and public spaces through art, storytelling and design.
The numbers tell the story: more than 3,000 feet of solid walnut moulding — nearly the length of 10 football fields — nearly 2,000 square feet of Optium Museum Acrylic, 2,000 square feet of acid-free foamboard, almost 2,600 wedges for frame corners, more than 1,000 yards of tape for back dustcovers, nearly 700 screws, many weeks of production and assembly labor, and dozens of installation hours.
“This was the kind of project that reminds us why custom framing is both craft and choreography,” said Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker, owners of Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing. “Every frame had to be beautifully made, structurally sound, consistent across the full installation, and delivered on an accelerated timeline. Whether we are framing one family photograph or hundreds of pieces for a major design project, the standard is the same: precision, communication and respect for the artwork.”
The project required far more than frame assembly. From production planning and sourcing to glazing, quality control, transport and installation, Walter Adams Framing coordinated a complex network of vendors, materials, schedules and workflows to ensure that each piece arrived ready for installation.
Acrylicize led the creative direction and artwork program. Hanson Digital Printing, led by Mark Hanson, produced the printed artwork. Farber Art Services handled the final hanging and installation. The solid walnut moulding was supplied by Picture Woods, a company known for sustainably harvested domestic hardwoods.
“This project was a true all-hands-on-deck effort,” said Haddad and Wicker. “Our framers, installers, coordinators and production staff all brought the same level of care to this large-scale installation that we bring to every bespoke framing project. The achievement is not only that we completed 324 frames, but that every one of them reflected the craftsmanship Walter Adams Framing is known for.”
A key factor in the project’s success was the ability to draw upon the shared resources and infrastructure of Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing, both owned by Haddad and Wicker. While the project remained fully a Walter Adams Framing commission, the operational flexibility created by the companies’ shared ownership allowed the team to expand production capacity, workspace and manpower without compromising quality.
“What distinguishes Walter Adams Framing is not simply that we can produce at scale,” said Wicker. “It is that we can scale while preserving the values that define custom framing: problem-solving, preservation, material integrity and attention to detail.”
Founded as one of San Francisco’s most respected custom framing studios, Walter Adams Framing serves clients through locations in the Fillmore District, Presidio Heights and West Portal. Its work includes bespoke framing, conservation framing, design trade services, art installation support and complex custom solutions for collectors, designers, creative studios and commercial clients.
The project also reflects the growing role of custom framers as strategic partners for designers and creative teams.
“Large-scale design projects are often under enormous pressure,” said Haddad. “Timelines shift. Specifications evolve. Logistics become complicated quickly. Our job is to absorb that complexity, solve problems before they become problems, and make the process seamless for the client.”
That solutions-oriented approach has become increasingly central to the work of both Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing, which together have built a reputation for preservation-focused design, archival materials, community engagement and high-level craftsmanship.
Earlier this year, Capricorn Framing celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of conservation framing, design collaboration and philanthropy in San Francisco. The acquisition of Walter Adams Framing expanded Haddad and Wicker’s ability to serve clients across multiple neighborhoods while maintaining a personal, service-driven approach.
“Framing is often the last step before artwork meets the world,” said Haddad and Wicker. “But it should never be an afterthought. A great frame protects, enhances and completes the story. This project gave us the opportunity to do that on a scale we had never attempted before — and we are proud of what our team accomplished.”
About Acrylicize:
Acrylicize is a global creative studio based in London and New York that works at the intersection of art, design, strategy and experience to “unlock the full potential of space and culture.” For more than 20 years, its multidisciplinary team has guided projects from first conversation to final installation, including project management, design, production and art consultancy. Working across workplaces, stadiums, public spaces and branded environments, Acrylicize creates what it calls “Physical Culture” — spaces with “a pulse, story, and soul.” Acrylicize is also a Certified B Corporation, reflecting its commitment to using business as a force for good.
